France’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has been designated as the competent authority to analyse and supervise the balance between women and men within the boards and management bodies of regulated-market listed companies above certain thresholds, following the French transposition of the EU “Women on Boards” Directive. The AMF will receive gender-representation information from in-scope issuers and publish a list of the companies that comply with the French Commercial Code parity rules. The EU directive applies to listed companies with at least 250 employees and either annual turnover above EUR 50 million or a balance-sheet total above EUR 43 million, and requires meeting one of two targets for the under-represented sex: at least 40% of non-executive director roles or at least 33% of all director roles (executive and non-executive). The AMF noted that France’s Copé-Zimmermann law already sets a 40% minimum for the least-represented sex on boards without distinguishing executive and non-executive members and applies to a broader set of companies. From 30 June 2026, the AMF will collect the required information annually from the relevant issuers and update the published compliance list on a regular basis. To support its new promotional and support role, the AMF and the High Council for Equality between women and men will share the information needed to carry out their respective missions.
France Autorite des marches financiers 2025-05-12
France's Autorité des marchés financiers becomes the competent authority to monitor gender balance on boards under the EU Women on Boards Directive
France’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) is now overseeing gender balance on boards of regulated-market listed companies, following the EU “Women on Boards” Directive. The directive targets companies with at least 250 employees and specific financial thresholds, requiring 40% of non-executive or 33% of all director roles to be held by the under-represented sex. The AMF will collect gender-representation data annually from 2026 and collaborate with the High Council for Equality.